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Veterans News & Events | August 15, 2017

Veterans News & Events | August 15, 2017

(Please Note: The Veterans News compiled and transmitted by Wayne M. Gatewood, Jr., USMC (Ret), does not endorse the views and/or facts presented, or any commercial products that may be advertised or available on external links. The presence of a link to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement, recommendation, or favoring of that site, or the views or privacy policies contained therein).

ABC News (AP): Trump’ remarks about violent clashes in Charlottesville. President Donald Trump’s remarks Saturday about violent clashes between white nationalists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, delivered in Bedminster, New Jersey, and transcribed and distributed by the White House: Well, thank you very much. As you know, this was a small press conference but a very important one, and it was scheduled to talk about the great things that we’re doing with the Secretary on the Veterans Administration.

Yonhap News Agency N. Korea seems to be prepared for fresh ICBM test: expert. Recent satellite photos suggests that North Korea is preparing for fresh submarine-based missile tests, an expert has said, amid heightened tension between the U.S. and North Korea over the communist state’s successful launch of an inter-continental ballistic missile.

Stars and Stripes: Europe program offers separating service members VA Jobs. A new program offering Department of Veterans Affairs jobs to servicemembers leaving active duty is now accepting applicants for a Europe-based training course. Previously only available in the United States, the pilot program offered by the VA and the Soldiers for Life office allows servicemembers across Europe to train for jobs as either service representatives or as disability raters, officials said Friday.

McClatchy: Vets group sues Pentagon for not protecting private military records of millions of troops. A veterans organization is suing the Pentagon for exposing private details about troops’ military service on “a truly massive scale” due to lax security on one of its websites. The lawsuit filed by Vietnam Veterans of America charges that that a Defense Department website “is currently exposing private details about the military service of millions of veterans to anybody at all, anonymously, for any purpose.”

The New York Times (AP): Trump Signs Bill to Fund Veterans Medical care Program. President Donald Trump has signed an emergency spending bill that will pump more than $2 billion into a program that allows veterans to receive private medical care at government expense. Trump, who made improving veterans care a central campaign promise, signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act while at his New Jersey golf club on Saturday.

Stars and Stripes: Trump signs $3.9 billion VA funding bill to avert crisis for Choice program. President Donald Trump on Saturday signed a $3.9 billion funding deal for the Department of Veterans Affairs that will shore up the nearly bankrupt Veterans Choice Program and allow the VA to open 28 new clinics and implement new hiring programs. Trump signed the bill in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he’s staying at his golf club on what he’s called a 17-day “working vacation.”

The Washington Times: Trump signs Vets bill to keep Veterans Choice Program afloat. President Trump on Saturday signed a bill that will pump funds into the Veterans choice program to keep it up and running, while Washington continues to fight over how best to give veterans the care they earned — but which the government has sometimes failed to deliver.

Washington Examiner: Congress gets it right on Veterans; why can’t it on anything else. As in many other instances where veterans have exemplified exceptional leadership and civic engagement, the most recent bipartisan legislative victories were led by and focused on former and current service members. Veterans affairs continues to exemplify the power of compromise and pragmatism in Congress.

The Washington Times: David Shulkin says new evidence in firing of VA medical center head should confirm decision. Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin said Friday that he’s going to look into the firing and subsequent rehiring of Washington, D.C.’s VA Medical Center director. “We’re going to take a look at all the evidence we had before when we made the decision to fire him, and since then even more evidence has come out. The inspector general has released its report on his leadership and has found additional concerns,” Mr. Shulkin said on Fox News.

Concord Monitor: My Turn: After meeting with VA Secretary, there is reason for optimism. On Aug. 4, Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin made an unprecedented visit to the Manchester VA. In attendance was the entire New Hampshire congressional delegation, along with Gov. Chris Sununu. Over the past few weeks, scores of veterans detailed horror stories of poor care they received at the VA.

Chicago Tribune: Editorial: Veterans health care: Building on success. The Department of Veterans Affairs has a problem. In 2014, after revelations of shockingly long wait times for veterans with serious ailments, it set up a program to let some of them go to doctors outside the VA system. Did it work? The Veterans Choice Program has been so popular that it is on the verge of running out of money.

FOX News (Video): Bill to help curb Veterans’ suicides might have opposite effect, critics say. A proposal in Congress intended to help reduce the suicide rate among U.S. military veterans might actually do more harm than good, its critics say. The “Oath of Exit Act,” sponsored by a Florida Republican who lost both legs to a roadside bombing in Afghanistan, recently passed the House as a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act, Stars and Stripes reported.

The Des Moines Register (Video): Suicide-prevention riders’ message to Veterans: ‘It’s OK to say you’re scared’. Ronnie Murray cried what he called “tears of relief” at the Food Depot Bar and Grill in Grimes. The Air Force veteran spent Aug. 3 on his motorcycle. He and more than 20 others rode around the Des Moines metro area to raise awareness about the high rate of veteran suicides. On average, 20 veterans die each day from suicide, according to a 2016 report from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Globe Gazette: Psychiatrist shortage also felt in VA system, Iowa. A nationwide shortage of psychiatrists has created a similar shortage in the U.S. Veterans Affairs department, which can amplify the department’s challenge in having sufficient staff to provide mental health care to veterans.

Leavenworth Times: Employees picket in front of VA. Employees of the Eisenhower VA Medical Center and others picketed Friday in front of the Leavenworth veterans hospital. Jennifer Gum said employees were concerned about vacancies at the hospital and proposed budget cuts. “They need to staff the VA,” she said. “We want to take care of our vets.”

The Washington Times: Majority of VA hospitals offer holistic therapies, alternative to opioids, study finds. Nearly 80 percent of military medical facilities are offering alternative medicines for pain management and psychological treatment instead of opioids when possible, according to a study published Thursday by the nonprofit RAND Corp. Over 8.9 million veterans are treated at 1,233 veteran health facilities each year, according to the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Stars and Stripes: Paralyzed Veterans of America: Ending dog testing at VA could hurt Veterans. Advocates and lawmakers attempting to shut down dog testing at the Department of Veterans Affairs have a new adversary – a group of disabled veterans concerned that stopping the research would limit future medical advancements. A measure to stop funding for VA research that causes pain to dogs passed the House floor on July 26 as part of a multi-agency funding bill.

News 12 (Video): Vietnam Vets report significant results of parasite study. Participants of a VA pilot study on Long Island say a significant number tested positive for liver-damaging parasites. Liver fluke is a water-borne pathogen prevalent in the Vietnam region and linked to liver cancer. Veterans are asking the government to classify the disease as a service-connected disability, but they say they’re facing resistance. Their efforts led to a recent pilot study conducted at the Northport VA. The VA would not comment on the results.

ABC News (AP): Congress approves bill to address VA claims backlog. Congress has sent the president a bill aimed at trimming a rapidly growing backlog of veterans’ disability claims. The House approved the bill by voice vote Friday during a brief session, sending the measure to President Donald Trump. The House is on recess, but a handful of lawmakers gaveled the chamber in and out of a session that lasted less than five minutes.

Associated Press Officials: Exhumation of killers from vet cemeteries is rare. The recent exhumation of an Army Vietnam veteran’s body from the Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery was a rare invocation of federal laws aimed at keeping murderers and rapists out of veterans burial grounds, federal and state officials say.

Upcoming Veteran Events

American Legion Post 328, Southfield, Michigan Listing of Current Events in and around the Metro Detroit Area for and about Veterans, for the period August 8 – November 18, 2017.

American Legion will be hosting a Career Fair as well as an Employment Summit in conjunction with the American Legion Annual Convention in Reno, NV. Employment Summit is August 18 – 19, 2017. Details here… Veterans Employment Workshop and Veterans Career and Benefits Fair is August 22, 2017. Details here…

Objective Rally Point (ORP). Tuesday, August 22, 2017, 7:15 AM – 9:00 AM, Army-Navy Country Club, 1700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202. You are invited to join us for our monthly Veteran networking breakfast on Tuesday, August 22, 2017. ORP is a forum for military Veterans in business and those who support them, or wish to team with them, to meet and connect. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to network with other Veterans committed to success in business. Although the focus of ORP is on the connections made between and with Veterans, we do have a presentation each month. This month we are very fortunate to have our annual panel of Federal Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Directors. Confirmed to participate on the panel are, Dr James Galvin, Deputy Director for Portfolio Management & Outreach, DoD Office of Small Business Programs, David Canada, Procurement Analyst/Program Manager, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Also invited to participate are Veterans Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security and OSDBUs from the military services. This is an incredible panel of government small business representatives and advocates who will provide information and perspective from several different agencies on how Veterans can be successful in marketing and winning contracts. Any Veteran interested in contracting with the government needs to attend and gain the benefit of decades of small business experience on the panel. Cost is $35.00. For more information and to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/objective-rally-point-august-2017-tickets-36778817433

Marine Week – Detroit, MI. September 6 – 10, 2017. Marine Week, hosted by the United States Marine Corps in one city per year, is a celebration of Community, Country and Corps – providing the American public the experience of directly connecting with hundreds of Marines. From September 6 –10, 2017, Marine Week Detroit will feature hands-on static displays, live demonstrations, time-honored Marine Corps traditions, musical performances and other events to showcase the history, military capabilities and community involvement of the Corps. For details: http://usmarineweek.com/